centerpiece

American  

[sen-ter-pees] / ˈsɛn tərˌpis /

noun

centerpieces plural

1. an ornamental object used in a central position, especially on the center of a dining-room table.

2. the central or outstanding point or feature.

   The centerpiece of the evening was a play put on by the employees.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• centerpieces
  plural

Etymology

Origin of centerpiece

First recorded in 1830–40; center + piece

Explanation

The centerpiece of something is literally the piece that goes in the center — the centerpiece of a table setting might be a candle surrounded by roses. Centerpiece also refers to the most important part of something. Although it often refers to the decoration in the middle of a table, a centerpiece is the most important and noteworthy part of anything. The Thinker is the centerpiece of the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia. An indoor lagoon is the centerpiece of the Tonga Room in San Francisco. The right to vote became a centerpiece of the women’s rights movement in the late 1800’s. No matter what it is, a centerpiece should be impressive.

Example Sentences

Soft pieces of bread are drenched in a buttery mixture of Dijon mustard, brown sugar and Worcestershire before being baked into a golden, shareable centerpiece.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026

Surprisingly, the narrative still has some juice left in it, pulling off a big emotional centerpiece that calls back to the second film, when a single Sarah McLachlan song shattered hearts around the world.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026

I’d say this was the centerpiece of the outfit, but no; not even.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Most visitors will likely first go to the 225-foot-tall, granite-clad obelisk that is the complex’s centerpiece.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Meg picks up the centerpiece and examines it from every angle.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• climax
• focal point